Phonograph record player trip mechanism



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PHONOGRAPH RECORD PLAYER TRIP MECHANISM Filed May 25. 1953 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 @ffm/gg UnitedStates Patent O PHONOGRAPH 'RECORD PLAYER TRIP MECHANI Original application June 1'5, 1949, Serial No. 99,191. Divided and this application May 25, 1953, Serial No. 357,247

4 Claims. (Cl. 274-1) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in phonograph record player mechanisms and more particularly to a record changer of the type where the records are disposed in a stack above the turntable and discharged successively, one at a time, onto a turntable. This application is a division of my copending application, Ser. No. 99,191 tiled June 15, 1949 now Patent No. 2,801,109, issued July 30, 1957.

More specifically, the inventive features of the record player comprehend improvements by which the record changing mechanism is brought into operation by automatic triggering means adapted to be alternately operated by the eccentric runout grooves of one class of records, and by the spiral concentric runout groove of still another class.

Other advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a record player embodying the present invention, adjusted for reproducing conventional 10inch records;

Figure 3 is a View corresponding to Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 showing adjustments of the record player for playing conventional 12-inch records;

Fig. 5 is another View corresponding to Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 another view corresponding to Fig. 2 indicating the adjustment of the record player for reproducing 7-inch records;

Fig. 7 is still another side elevational View of the upper portion of the record player as viewed from a different direction;

Fig. Sis a fragmentary top plan view showing elements of the record player including the pickup arm and an adjustment of the same;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the record engaging end of the pickup arm and the adjustment thereon;

Fig. 10 is a top plan View, corresponding to Fig. 1, and Fig. 1l is a view, corresponding to Fig. 2, showing the record player in readiness for reproduction of 7i11ch diameter records having large center holes therein;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 12-12 of Fig. 10 showing the record support members in their normal position;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of the center post showing one pair of the record support members in an intermediate position;

Fig. 14 is another fragmentary view, corresponding to Figs. 12 and 13 showing both pairs of record support members intheir eXtreme position;

Fig. .15 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing mechanism including the center post and other mechanism by which the record support members thereof are operated;

Fig. 16 isa top plan View of mechanism of the center post, the cap portion thereof having been removed;

Fig. 17 is a bottom plan View of the center post;

Fig. 1S is a section on line 18-18 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is an exploded View of the record support members and mechanism for their operation, in perspective;

Fig. 20 is a top plan view of one of the record support members;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of the center post;

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the center post in its entirety;

Fig. 23 is a bottom plan View of the pickup arm;

Fig. 24 is a vertical section on line 24-24 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a vertical section on line 2S-25 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 26 is a vertical section on line 26-26of Fig. 23;

Fig. 27 is a vertical section on line 27-27 of Fig. 23, the pickup arm being partly supported by an accumulation of records;

Fig. 28 is an exploded view of elements of the pickup arm mounting, in perspective;

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 29-29 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 30 is fragmentary bottom plan view of the improved record player, the parts thereof being in the positions they occupy while a record is being reproduced;

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 31-31 of Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 is a fragmentary vertical section, drawn to an enlarged scale, taken on line 32-32 of Fig. 3l, the swingable member having been omitted;

Fig. 33 is a fragmentary, vertical elevational View of one of the spindles;

Fig. 34 is a bottom plan View of the spindle socket and sp-indle therein as viewed from line 34-34 of Fig. 31;

Fig. 35 is a section, drawn to an enlarged scale, and taken `transversely of the spindle on line 35-35 of Fig. 33;

Fig. 36 is a section on line 36-36 of Fig. 30;

Fig. 37 is a fragmentary bottom plan view correspond ing to Fig. 30, parts being in the position they occupy during a record changing cycle;

Fig. 38 is a view of the mechanism, in perspective, for operating the center post;

Fig. 39 is a view of elements, in perspective,'of the mechanism adapted to initiate a record changing cycle;

Fig. 40 is a perspective view of the cam member which is adapted to cooperate with the mechanism of Fig. 39;

Fig. 41 is a bottom plan view corresponding to Fig. 30 showing the parts in a position they occupy at another stage of a record changing cycle;

Fig. 42 is a vertical section taken on line 42-42 of Fig. 41; p

Fig. 43 is a vertical section on line 43-43 of Fig. 41 and Fig. 30;

Fig. 44 is a View of some of the elements of the crank mechanism, in perspective;

Fig. 45 is another bottom plan view corresponding to Fig. 30, some of the parts of which are in still another position;

Fig. 46 is horizontal section taken on line 46-46 of Fig. 31;

Fig. 47 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, partly in section, of mechanism depicted in Fig. 45 showing another position the parts occupy in controlling the pickup arm;

Fig. 48 is a view corresponding to Fig. 47 showing the parts in still other positions they occupy in controlling the operation of the pickup arm;

Fig. 49 is a fragmentary perspective view of elements of the trigger mechanism and spider mechanism;

Fig. 50 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, taken on line 50--50 of Fig. 49;

Y Fig. 51 is another view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, taken on line 51-51 of Fig. 49;

Fig. 52 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, corresponding to Fig. 27;

Fig. 53 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 53-53 of Fig. 3l, the friction wheel having been rotated through a half turn from the Fig. 31 position;

Fig. 54 is an elevational view of the motive unit showing adjacent parts in fragmentary vertical section;

Fig. 55 is a fragmentary top plan view of the record player, the turntable being broken away to reveal other parts including the motive unit and control thereof in addition to the clutch means;

Fig. 56 is a view corresponding to Fig. 55, more parts thereof being broken away to show further details of the drive mechanism;

Fig. 57 is a vertical section on line 57-57 of Fig. 56;

Fig. 58 is another view corresponding to Fig. 55, the motive unit being shown as adjusted for operation of the turntable at a different speed;

Fig. 59 is another view corresponding to Fig. 55, the motive unit being shown as adjusted for operation of the turntable at still another speed; and

Fig. 60 is a view corresponding to Fig. 53, the parts being indicated as they are at the beginning of a record changing cycle.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown one embodiment of the invention, Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive are intended to indicate the versatility of the record player for reproducing several classes of records. For example, in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the character 2 denotes a chassis or base plate of any suitable formation, a supply of inch records R are supported above a conventional turntable 3, on the base plate, by means of a shouldered spindle 4, centrally of the turntable, to provide support for the records at their center holes, and an ejector head 6 to provide support for the records at their peripheral edges, the ejector head being spaced from the base plate 2 by means including a bearing member 7 also serving the purpose of providing support for a pickup arm 8 in swingable relationship to the turntable.

In order that a supply or stack of 12-inch records R' may be supported by the magazine means provided by spindle 4 and ejector head 6, said ejector is rotated through a half turn from its Fig. l position, rotation being about the vertical axis of a control knob 9 surmounting the ejector head.

Both 10-inch and l2-inch records just alluded to are of the conventional variety; that is, they have coarse head is turned to its Fig. 1 position and also due to an oiset 13 in the spindle. Furthermore, manipulation of an adjustment handle 14 (Fig. 8) on the pickup arm 8 is adapted to provide for operative initial engagement of the 7inch records by the pickup arm, the handle controlling mechanism later to be described.

Although the 10-inch and 12-inch records are referred to as provided with coarse grooves, records of these diameters as well as the 7-inch records are also made with microgroove sound tracks on their surfaces which may also terminate in eccentric terminal grooves. The fine groove, or microgroove, of these records, however, is adapted to be engaged operatively, only by a needle or stylus having a radius at the tip thereof of about .001

sound grooves which terminate in spiral terminal grooves centrally thereof and are adapted to be reproduced when rotated at a speed of 78.26 revolutions per minute, reproduction being effected by engagement of their sound grooves by a needle or stylus, having a radius at the tip thereof of .003 or .004 of an inch and the weight of lthe pickup arm exerting a downward pressure of the needle on a record it is tracking of from 2O to 30 grams.

Novel features of the record player also comprehend of an inch, and the needle is held in engagement with the groove with a pressure of but 5 or 6 grams. Therefore, to provide for reproduction of records having coarse groove and/ or microgrooves, the pickup arm is provided with a needle for both kinds of grooves. The needle which it is desired to use is moved into an operative position by means of a control handle 16 (Fig. 9). It is, of course, carried by a transducer, bearing the two needles, which will not be described since this feature forms the subject matter of my copending application filed on December 23, 1948, Serial No. 67,040.

Spndles By means of another novel feature, the adaptability of the record player is further increased. This feature includes a spindle of large diameter of center post 17 (Figs. 10 and 11) which is adapted to be attached to the turntable in lieu of the spindles 4 and 11 which are anchored to other means, later to be described, and around either of which the turntable is adapted to turn. The center post includes magazine means thereon at a level higher than the level of. the turntable for support of still another class of records R" having center holes approximately 11/2 inches in diameter which are threaded over the center post. Records of this class are also 7 inches in diameter and adapted to be reproduced when rotated at a speed of 45 revolutions per minute. Sound is recorded on a record of this class in a microgroove, the inner end of which terminates in a spiral terminal groove.

The center post 17, as will be noted from Fig. 22, includes a substantially hollow body portion 18 and a cap portion 19. From the lower end of the body portion 18 a plurality of hooks 21, preferably three in number, extend downwardly, thence laterally in an arcuate direction to provide lug-portions 22. The turntable 3 (Fig. 18) includes a plurality of apertures 23, which are arcuate of a center hole 24, in the turntable, and complementary tothe hooks 21 on the center post. The center post also includes a reciprocatory element indicated in its entirety by the character 26, the structure and purpose of which will be indicated hereinafter. In order to lock the center post releasably to the turntable, the reciprocatory element 26 is passed through center hole 24, the hooks 21 then passed through the apertures 23 and a turning motion imparted to the center post to project the lugs 22 under the top of the turntable 3. Preferably, the lugs extend in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the turntable so that when the hooks are passed through apertures 23, anchor surfaces provided by the turntable adjacent the apertures are immediately carried over the lugs 22 by motion of the turntable. Additional structural details of the center post 17 are indicated in Fig. l5 wherein will be noted the anchor screws 27 threaded in the cap 19 and in extension through holes 28 in the body portion 18.

As previously indicated, the records R are supported solely from the center post 17 by means of retractable extended members 31 and 32 (Fig. 12) which may be retracted byv motion of the reciprocatory element 26. In order that these operations may be effected, the element 26 is slidably journalledin the body portion 18 and includes at its upper end a bifurcated member 33 of rectangular transverse cross section having arms 34 extending upwardly. The arms 34 are, therefore, adapted to move vertically. within a pocket 36 (Fig. 21), in the body portion 18, said pockethaving parallel side walls 37 sutiiciently intimate in association with the arms 33 to resist rotation of the reciprocatory element about its axis. Upwardly thereof, the pocket 36 opens into a channel 38 which extends diametrically of the body portion and is defined, in part, by parallel walls 39 extending verticaly from horizontal support surfaces 41 on either side of the pocket 36, since the channel 38 is of width greater than the width of pocket 36. The Vmembers 31 and 32 are slidably disposed in the channel -38 and are urged away from each other by a compression spring 42, the ends of which seat in pockets 43 in adjacent ends of the record support members. The extent to which the members 31 and 32 may be thus moved away from each other is limited, however, by the arms 34 which extend through rectangular apertures 44, in said members, and thereby provide an extreme extended position, or normal position for each of the support members.

Another characteristic of each of the records R" is the region 46 of reduced thickness about its center hole. When these records are stacked on each other on the center post 17, a space 47 is present between adjacent records. Advantage of the space 47 is taken to insert supplementary record support members or separator members k48 and 49 to support those records of the stack above the bottom record thereof while the members 31 and 32 are retracted, by means yto be described later, to allow the bottom record to drop to the support of the turntable.

Being of the width greater than the width of channel 38, the supplementary members or knives I48 and 49 are adapted to slide on the upper ends of the body portion. In so doing, they are guided by the parallel vertical walls 51 of a pair of pads 52 spaced slightly from the channel 38. As an additional means for providing support for a stack of records carried by the center post, the upper surfaces of the support members 31 and 32, at their outer ends, are relieved at 53 to provide surfaces on which the bottom record of the stack is adapted to rest at such an elevation that the blades 48 and 49 may be freely extended into that space 47 which is between the bottom record of the stack and the record immediately thereabove. The blades 48 and 49 are normally held in a retracted position by means later to be described. In this position similar arcuate ends 54 of the blades are retracted within the center post. In order that the blades may be extended, however, the blade 48 is provided with an aperture 56 through which one of the arms 34 extends While blade 49 is provided with an aperture 57 through which the other of the arms 34 extends. On the sides thereof remote from each other, the arms 34 are provided with sloping cam surfaces 58, each of which is adapted to cooperate with follower means provided by lugs 59 and r6.1 struck upwardly from the edges deiining the apertures 56 and 57 respectively. As will be noted (Fig. 19), the lower portions of lugs 59 and 61 slope upward toward each other, in accordance with -the sloping sides of cams 58, thence away from each other, thereby providing hooks 62, against which springs 63 (Fig. 16) are adapted to press to urge followers 59 and 61 of the blades against cam surfaces 58. Downwardly extending portions 64 of the springs 63 extend through holes 66 in the pads 52 to hold the springs in place thereon. A slight pressure by the springs `63 on the lugs 59 and 61 is maintained by the engagement of the springs with lugs 67 extending upward from the pads 52. The springs are additionally held in place by the cap 19, proximity of which to he lugs 67 prevents vertical displacement of the springs.

`Due to the vertical movement of the bifurcated member 33, there is a considerable force tending to lift blades 48 and 49 from their supporting surfaces. This is resisted by proximity of a rib 73, on the cap 19, which extends into intimate association with the upper surface of the blade 49. A similar tendency on the part of the members 31 and A32 to be lifted from their support is resisted, in turn, by the blades -48 and 49.

The blades 48 and 49 are oppositely coupled to the record support members 31 and 32, i.e., blade 48 is coupled to members 32 and blade 49 to member 31 for the purpose of retracting members 31 and 32 when the v blades are moved from their retracted positions (Fig. 12) to their extended positions (Fig. 14). In order that this manner of coupling may be effected, a portion of the blade 49 slides over blade 48, although the blade also slides on the end of body portion 17 due to an offset 68 transversely of blade 49. A finger 69, extending abruptly downwardly from one end of blade 48, is thus adapted to extend into the aperture 44 of member 32between the arm 34 therein and the adjacent wall surface of said support member. A iinger 71, on the inner end of blade 49 also extends downwardly through aperture 56 in blade 48, into aperture 44 in member 31 and between the remaining arm 34 and adjacent end wall of member 31. The cap 19, at its lower edge, is provided with diametrically opposite notches 74 (Fig. l5) adequate to freely accommodate the blades 48 and 49.

As will be noted (Fig. 12) the fingers 69 and 71 are normally in spaced relationship to the adjacent end walls of the members 31 and 32 owing to a region 72 of reduced thickness of each of these walls just above the pockets 43. There is, therefore, lost motion between lingers 69 and 71 and the members 31 and 32. The blades 48 and 49 are therefore adapted to be extended above the bottom record of the stack for support of the records thereabove before the record support members 31 and 32 begin to be retracted for release of said bottom record.

As they are released from the support of the magazine provided by the support members 31 and 32, the records R", of course, accumulate on the turntable 3. In order that they may be readily removed therefrom and from the center post 17, the record support members 31 and 32 are each provided with surfaces 75 which slope in a curvilinear contour from their outer extremities downward and toward the axis of the center post to provide cam surfaces against which the records press as they are lifted upwardly. Very slight pressure of the records upward against surfaces 75 is necessary to cam members 31 and 32 to suiciently retracted positions, against the resistance of spring 42, to enable the records to be moved past the support members.

The reciprocatory element 26 comprises a rod portion 76 (Fig. 15) to the upper end of which the bifurcated member 32 is rigidly attached. An adjustment pin 77 is threaded in the lower end of the portion 78. The length of the rod portion is thereby adjustable and the position at which it is adjusted may be maintained by a lock nut 72 on the pin, which is adapted to be clamped against the lower extremity of portion 76. This is in order that element 77 may cooperate with a suitable cam member 79 adapted to be moved horizontally and transversely of the axis of the element 26, and which will be described in detail hereinafter. As means to urge the element 76 downward to its normal position, a compression spring 81 is carried by rod portion 76 between a boss 82, internally of the body portion 18, and a U-washer 83 embracing said rod portion at an annular recess 84.

The releasable support for the alternate spindles 4 and 11 respectively is best shown in Fig. 3l. Therein it will be noted that the base plate 2 includes an oifset wall 86 which is disposed at a level lower than the rest of the base plate by a circular wall 87 thereby providing a depression or well 88 adapted to accommodate the turntable 3, the latter having a depending flange 89 at its periphery. Centrally thereof, the wall 86 bears a socket 

